Enzyme-catalyzed metal deposition for the enhanced in situ detection of immunohistochemical epitopes and nucleic acid sequences

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to novel compositions of matter and methods of detecting in situ an immunohistochemical epitope or nucleic acid sequence of interest in a biological sample comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to the epitope or sequence of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion, thereby facilitating the reduction of the metal ion to a metal atom at or about the point where the enzyme is anchored. Novel phosphate derivatives of reducing agents are described that when exposed to a phosphatase are activated to their reducing form, thereby reducing metal ions to insoluble metal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/482,596 filed Jun. 24, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of chemistry, and in particular is directed to a new method of detecting in situ immunohistochemical epitopes and nucleic acid sequences using an enzyme-mediated reaction for the localized deposition of metal atoms.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Tissue staining is an ancient art by modern standards that goes back over one hundred years. Recently, efforts have been made to automate the procedure of applying different types of chemical and biochemical stains to tissue sections. Instruments that have been invented for this purpose include the Ventana Medical Instruments' line of dual carousel-based instruments such as the 320, ES®, NexES®, BENCHMARK®, and the BENCHMARK® XT. Patents that describe these systems include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,707, 5,654,199, 6,093,574, and 6,296,809, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Another type of automated stainer is the TechMate® line of stainers, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,355,439 and 5,737,499, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0006] Various manual detection chemistries have been developed for histochemistry over the years. Generally, once a molecular marker or target of interest has been identified through biomolecular studies it needs to be rendered visible under the light microscope for a Pathologist or other medical specialist to interpret. The first detection step involves an anti-target primary antibody detectably labeled with biotin, digoxigenin, fluoroscein or other hapten being used to locate the biological target of interest. Next, an anti-hapten secondary antibody conjugated to an enzyme or other reporter molecule is used to locate the primary antibody. Typical enzyme systems are known to those of ordinary skill and include horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase. These enzymes then catalyze the precipitation of a chromogenic substrate in the immediate vicinity of the primary-secondary antibody complex. Chromogens such as nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT/BCIP); 3,3′-diaminobenzidene tetrahydrochloride (DAB); and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC) are well-known. Alternately, enzyme substate interactions may produce chemiluminesent signals, which can be captured on a photographic film.

[0007] Other labels include: ¹²⁵I-labeling of the secondary antibody, which can be detected using a photographic film; fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled second antibody, which can be detected using UV light; ¹²⁵I-labeled Protein A, which can be used instead of a secondary antibody, as it will bind to the Fc region of IgG molecules; Gold-labeled secondary antibody, which is directly visible as a red color when they are bound with the secondary antibody to the primary antibody; Biotinylated secondary antibody, which when incubated with the secondary antibody, then incubated with enzyme-conjugated avidin which binds strongly to the biotin, will give an enhanced signal, as multiple biotin molecules can be attached to a single antibody molecule. Enzymes typically used include alkaline phosphatase (“AP”) or horseradish peroxidase (“HRP”).

[0008] Metallic enhancement of immunohistochemical detection is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,734 (Higgs et al.), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The '734 patent is directed to a composition of matter and a process for detecting the presence of an oxidative catalyst in a biological sample. The composition comprises a precipitate formed by oxidation of a chromogenic substrate in the presence of the catalyst, together with two or more co-precipitated reduced metals. A strong signal is formed with which to detect an oxidation catalyst which is localized to a target molecule. Target molecules may be nucleic acids, antibodies or cell surface antigens. In particular, Higgs et al. rely on a chromogenic precipitate and two or more metals, for the purpose of detecting an oxidative catalyst. Merchanthaler et al., J. Histoch. And Cytochem., 37:10 1563-65 (1989) teach silver intensification of the oxidatively polymerized DAB by pre-treating the DAB with nickel ions.

[0009] A more recent example of metallic enhancement of immunohistochemical detection includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,113 (Hainfeld). The '113 patent is directed to a method of producing metal in a zero oxidation state from metal ions, comprising: providing metal ions of at least one metal selected from cesium, periodic table group 1b, 2a, 4a and 8, an oxygen containing oxidizing agent and a reducing agent selected from at least one of hydroquinone, a hydroquinone derivative or n-propyl gallate; providing an oxido-reductase enzyme; combining the enzyme with the metal ions, oxidizing agent and reducing agent; and reducing at least some of the metal ions to metal in a zero oxidation state. In particular, silver ion reduction to silver metal in proximity to horseradish peroxidase when exposed to hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone is taught.

[0010] There continues to be a need for better biochemical techniques for visually identifying immunohistochemical epitopes and DNA targets of interest via bright field light microscopy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention is directed to novel compositions of matter and methods of detecting in situ an immunohistochemical epitope or nucleic acid sequence of interest in a biological sample comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to the epitope or sequence of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion, thereby catalyzing the reduction of the metal ion to a metal in oxidation state 0 at or about the point where the enzyme is anchored. Novel phosphate derivatives of reducing agents are described that when exposed to a phosphatase enzyme are activated to their reducing form, thereby reducing metal ions to insoluble metal particles in oxidation state 0.

[0012] The invention is also directed to a compound having the general structure (IV) shown below:

[0013] wherein

[0014] R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate;

[0015] R₂ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, or (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and

[0016] Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, H, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam; but both Zs may not be H. A preferred compound has both Zs=phosphate.

[0017] The invention is also directed to a compound having the general structure (V):

[0018] wherein

[0019] R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and

[0020] Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam. A particularly preferred compound has Z =phosphate.

[0021] The invention is also directed to a compound having the general structure (VI):

[0022] wherein

[0023] R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate; and

[0024] Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, (α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam. A particularly preferred compound has Z=phosphate.

[0025] The invention is also directed to a compound having the general formula (VII):

[0026] wherein

[0027] R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and

[0028] Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam.

[0029] Two particularly preferred compounds have R₁=methyl or CH₂—(CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂)₃—H, and Z=phosphate.

[0030] The invention is also directed to a method of in situ staining a biological sample having an epitope or nucleotide sequence of interest, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said tissue with a conjugate molecule having a hapten; (b) contacting said hapten with a hapten-binding partner conjugated to a label, enzyme; and (c) contacting said biological sample with a redox-inactive reductive species that is a substrate for said label enzyme in the presence of a metal ion.

[0031] The invention is also directed to a method of in situ staining a biological sample having an epitope or nucleotide sequence of interest, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said tissue with a biotinylated primary antibody; (b) contacting said biological sample having said biotinylated primary antibody bound to it with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase; and (c) contacting said biological sample of step (b) with ascorbic acid phosphate in the presence of silver ion at a pH greater than 7. An optional gold ion pretreatment step may also be applied to enhance the silver deposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a photograph of eight microtiter wells arranged in two columns of four. Column A is the control column containing 100 μL of 50 mM silver nitrate and 100 μL of 50 mM phosphate substrate in 100 mM tris, pH 9.0. Column B contains the same components with the addition of 5 μL of 0.2 mg/mL calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase (Pierce) in 100 mM Tris, pH 7.0. Column B demonstrates the action of alkaline phosphatase-mediated release of the reducing substrate (i.e. ascorbic acid-2-phosphate to ascorbic acid) and the concomitant reduction of silver nitrate to silver metal particles by the released reducing substrate.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a photograph of four spots on nitrocellulose paper that were treated with 5 μL of 0.2 mg/mL calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase (Pierce) in 100 mM Tris, pH 7.0, 5 μL of a 50 mM solution of the phosphates from Example 1 in 100 mM Tris, pH 9.0, and 5 μL of 50 mM silver nitrate. Ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AAP), Sesamol phosphate (SP), Hydroquinone-1,4-diphosphate (HQP), 2,2,5,7,8-Pentamethyl-6-chromanol phosphate (PMCP).

[0034]FIG. 3 is a gray-scale photomicrograph of normal tonsil tissue stained using AP-SA conjugate, gold pre-treatment, and silver reduction using ascorbic acid phosphate (AAP).

[0035]FIG. 4 is a gray-scale photomicrograph of normal tonsil tissue stained using AP-SA conjugate, gold pre-treatment, and silver reduction using AAP, the only difference being full online development of the silver signal.

[0036]FIG. 5 is a gray-scale photomicrograph of the positive control for FIGS. 3-4.

[0037]FIG. 6 is a photomicrograph of anti-Desmin antibody on skeletal muscle detected with gold pretreatment, AAP and AgNO₃, 20 minutes incubation.

[0038]FIG. 7 is a photomicrograph of anti-S100 on brain, detected with gold pretreatment, AAP and AgNO₃, 20 minutes incubation.

[0039]FIG. 8 is a photomicrograph of Rabbit Negative Control on Brain detected with gold pretreatment, AAP and AgNO₃, 20 minutes incubation.

[0040]FIG. 9 is a photomicrograph of anti-S100 antibody on brain tissue, using Ventana VRed detection.

[0041]FIG. 10 is a photomicrograph of anti-Desmin antibody on Skeletal Muscle, gold pretreatment, AAP and AgNO₃, 10 minutes incubation, and 10 minutes' 4-methylaminophenol amplification.

[0042]FIG. 11 is a photomicrograph of anti-Desmin antibody on Skeletal Muscle without any non-enzymatic amplification. Same conditions as in FIG. 9, except no amplification step.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] The invention is directed to a method of detecting an immunohistochemical epitope or nucleic acid sequence of interest by first binding a conjugate molecule to the epitope or sequence of interest. The conjugate molecule is labeled with an enzyme which catalyzes the transfomation of a redox-inactive reductive species into a reducing agent thereby allowing the reduction of a chromogenically detectable metal at or about the point where the enzyme is anchored. More specifically, it relies on a novel method of using alkaline phosphatase and other enzymes, i.e., glucosidases, esterases, β-galactosidases as labels capable of catalyzing the dephosphorylation of a redox-inactive enzyme substrate(s), i.e. ascorbic acid phosphate, which after enzyme-catalyzed dephosphorylation becomes an extremely efficient reducing agent capable of reducing silver and/or gold ions to metallic silver and/or gold atoms. Since the reduction occurs near or at the epitope or nucleotide sequence of interest, the precipitated metallic silver/gold in oxidation state 0 accumulates in the vicinity of the epitope or sequence greatly enhancing the visual detectability of the epitope in the microscopic diagnostic procedures.

[0044] The invention is also directed to novel compounds that have been specifically synthesized for use in the above method. Most prefered is the ascorbic acid phosphate (see general formula I wherein Z is PO₃ ⁻² substrate, which when dephosphorylated by its enzyme alkaline phosphatase, results in ascorbate ion, a good reducer of silver and gold cations. Generally, compounds having the formulas (I)-(VII) shown below are excellent substrates.

[0045] For general structures I-VII, Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, galactosyl, glucosyl, ester or beta-lactam. For general structures II-IV, one of the two Zs may also be H.

[0046] For general structures II-IV, at least one Z must be PO₃ ²⁻, galactosyl, glucosyl, ester or beta-lactam.

[0047] For general structure II, R may be H, alky, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate.

[0048] For general structures III-VII, R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate.

[0049] For general structures III-IV, R₂ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate.

[0050] The terms used herein are known to the chemist of ordinary skill in the art. Nevertheless, to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims and the scope given to such terms, the following definitions are provided:

[0051] Detecting in situ means to be able to visualize the biological feature of interest in tissue or intact cellular specimens. Tissue is for example, fixed, paraffin-embedded 4 -8 μm-thick tissue sections such as are commonly mounted on glass microscope slides and then prepared and stained for Immunohistochemistry, or in situ hybridization using oligonucleotide probes. Intact cells include cytospins, ThinPreps™ (Cytyc, Inc., Boxborough, Mass.) and other methods of preparing intact cells for staining. In situ can also refer to tissue arrays mounted on glass microscope slides.

[0052] Chromogen: Enzyme substrate that yields a detectable reaction product that is usually colored. Examples of typical chromogens include Nuclear Fast Red; nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT/BCIP); 3,3′-diaminobenzidene tetrahydrochloride (DAB); and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC). Many more are known and available through suppliers such as Pierce Chemical, Rockford, Ill.

[0053] Conjugate molecule: may be any molecule that has a complementary binding portion that, when brought into proximity to its complementary binding site, binds to the site. Antibodies and RNA/DNA oligomers that have sequences capable of hybridizing to their target RNA or DNA, are two examples of conjugate molecules. Yet another conjugate pair is the streptavidin-biotin pair, also called “affinity partners” herein. The conjugate protein streptavidin has a natural affinity for biotin. Biotin is used pervasively throughout the anatomical pathology laboratory as streptavidin's binding partner. Almost all commercially-available primary antibodies are labeled with biotin so that streptavidin conjugates can be used to localize the primary. antibody. In the present invention the biotin-streptavidin binding motif is used to co-localize streptavidin with AP. Secondary antibodies labeled with biotin are targeted to the binding site in the tissue, and the streptavidin-AP conjugate brings the AP into the same location through streptavidin's binding to biotin.

[0054] Kit: a packaged combination of one or more vessels, containers, devices or the like holding the necessary reagents for detecting a biomarker of interest. The kit is appended with written instructions for performing the method. The kit may contain an AP-labeled antibody, nucleic acid, ligand, or the like. The kit for detecting a biomarker of interest in a biological sample comprises one or more containers, each container adapted to hold an anti-biomarker conjugate molecule, a redox-inactive reductive species, an enzyme for rendering said reductive species active, and a metal ion.

[0055] The label enzyme may be alkaline phosphatase or other enzyme conjugated to an antibody, nucleic acid or conjugate protein such as streptavidin. The function of the label enzyme is to catalyze the creation of a redox-active reductive species from a redox-inactive reductive precursor. Other enzymes may be alpha- and beta-galactosidases, alpha- and beta-glucosidases, esterases generally, and beta-lactamases, specifically cephalosporinases and penicillinases.

[0056] The redox-inactive reductive species is the precursor to the reductive species/reducing agent such as ascorbate or hydroquinone dianion, which under the proper conditions will reduce soluble metal ions such as silver(+) or gold (+3) to a silver or gold atom such that it becomes visible under a brightfield light microscope to the eye as a specific dot. A preferred redox-inactive reductive species of the pfesent invention is ascorbate phosphate, although many more are taught herein.

[0057] Other reducing agents that can be used to amplify the silver signal are hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, 2-aminophenol and 4-aminophenol. They act to further reduce metal ions to metallic oxidation state 0, and are typically used to supplement or amplify the signal. Other reducing agents are well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and can be substituted for those taught herein.

[0058] The invention disclosed herein utilizes a novel series of phosphates and diphosphates and related derivatives which, although completely inactive as reducing agents, become reactive and capable of reducing metal ions to metallic oxidation state (0) after the alkaline phosphatase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the phosphate groups. The inactive precursor reducing agent shown in the structures below is ascorbic acid phosphate, a particularly preferred embodiment. In the presence of alkaline phosphatase it is hydrolyzed to the active reducing agent ascorbic acid, which is capable of reducing gold, silver and other metal cations to metal(0):

[0059] Still other novel organic reducing agent precursors include α-tocopherol phosphate, sesamol phosphate and eugenol phosphate, shown in the general structures V-VII, wherein Z=PO₃ ⁻²; and R may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate.

[0060] There are several advantages of using alkaline phosphatase as a label and ascorbate phosphate as the substrate in the instant invention:

[0061] (1) Alkaline phosphatase is one of the perfectly evolved enzymes with a Kcat/Km approximating the diffusion-controlled limit of 1×10⁹ liter/mole-sec.

[0062] (2) Alkaline phosphatase's optimal pH is 9-10, coinciding with the fastest reduction potentials of the hydroquinones liberated by the dephosphorylation of the substrates.

[0063] (3) Aryl and alkyl phosphates and diphosphates can be synthesized reasonably inexpensively.

[0064] (4) Aryl and alkyl phosphates and diphosphates are excellent substrates of alkaline phosphatase.

[0065] (5) Aryl and alkyl phosphates and diphosphates are generally reasonably stable and can be formulated to resist decomposition over extended periods.

[0066] (6) Alkaline phosphatases are very stable enzymes resisting thermal and chemical degradation better than most enzymes.

[0067] (7) Alkaline phosphatases are reasonably small and methods of conjugation to other biological molecules have been developed.

[0068] (8) Ascorbic acid phosphate is an excellent substrate of AP and ascorbate has a very high reduction potential, i.e., it reduces Ag+ and Au +3 quantitatively and rapidly, with dehydroascorbate as the only by-product.

[0069] Another excellent reducing agent is hydroquinone dianion. The structures below show the hydroquinone-benzoquinone equilibrium structures, at a pH of from 9-10, in the presence of an electron acceptor like silver cation. Hydroquinone dianion is the actual species responsible for reducing silver cations to insoluble metal. The formation of benzoquinone is favored at high pH:

[0070] General structures II-IV are some hydroquinone derivatives that are also the subject of this invention. Hydroquinone diphosphate (general structure II with both Zs=phosphate) is a preferred substrate for dephosphorylation by the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, which at pH 7-11 is dephosphorylated to hydroquinone dianion, a preferred reducing agent for silver cation. Other hydroquinone-like derivatives are depicted in general structures III-IV, and are naphthohydroquinone (III), and anthrahydroquinone (IV). They can be substituted as shown within the aryl rings at any position with R₁ and R₂, and at the oxygens with Z. Substituents R₁ and R₂ can be just about any moiety that can be reacted at these sites, yet still retain the ability to generate a dianion at the desired pH. An exhaustive list of organic substituents is not included herein, but some likely substituents include the following: H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate.

[0071] Various enzyme labels may be used in the instant invention, depending upon the label-substrate pair selected, as shown in the structures below. For example, esterases may be used in conjunction with mono- and diesters. Galactosidases and glucosidases may also be employed for deprotection of the substrates mono- and di-galactosides and mono- and diglucosides. The “Z” groups which are shown below include phosphate, galactosyl, glucosyl, esters, and beta-lactams. A preferred beta-lactam is cephalosporine. The saccharides that come within the scope of the invention include any with reducing end conjugated to the reductive species' oxygen. R groups may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate.

[0072] The last structure, a C3′ beta-lactams (i.e. cephalosporins) may also be used in conjunction with the beta-lactamases as enzymatic labels' . The R group of the beta-lactams may be an alkyl aryl, i.e., thiophene, methyl or benzyl.

[0073] Of particular value and interest are the galactosyl, glucosyl and other saccharide hydroquinone and ascorbate derivatives in that the enzyme turnover of the inactive substrate yields TWO reducing agents, namely hydroquinone or ascorbate and the carbohydrate with its reducing end also capable of reducing the silver ion to metallic silver:

[0074] In addition to alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase may also be used as a label in which case the deprotection of the phosphate groups on the substrates should be done at pH<7. Ascorbic acid liberated in such reactions still conserves excellent reducing capabilities at pH<7.

[0075] A gold pretreatment step may be utilized to “seed” the area immediately adjacent to the immobilized alkaline phosphatase, thereby taking advantage of the well-known propensity for silver metal to deposit on a nucleation site such as gold particles (“metallography”). As demonstrated in the Examples herein, once the SA-AP conjugate was bound to the biotinylated conjugate molecule, gold ion in the form of AuCl₃ together with ascorbate phosphate was co-deposited. AP dephosphorylated the ascorbate phosphate resulting in production of the reducing agent ascorbate, which then reduced gold ions to metallic gold. Metallic gold then served as the nucleation site for further amplification of the signal by silver ion reduction to silver metal.

[0076] The following examples are included for purposes of illustrating certain aspects of the invention and should not be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Phosphates for Alkaline-Phosphatase Mediated Reduction of Silver (I)

[0077] Silver nitrate (100 μL of 50 mM AgNO₃) was aliquoted into the wells of a microtiter plate (see FIG. 1). Addition of 100 μL of a 50 mM solution of either ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (wells A1, B1), sesamol phosphate (wells A2, B2), hydroquinone-1,4-diphosphate (wells A3, B3), or 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-chromanol phosphate (wells A4, B4) to the silver solution did not elicit any reaction. If calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase (5 μL of 0.2 mg/mL) was added to the Column B wells, each solution formed metallic silver (0) as either a fine, black precipitate or silvering of the container walls.

[0078] A: 100 μL of 50 mM AgNO₃ and 100 μL of 50 mM substrate phosphate

[0079] B: 100 μL of 50 mM AgNO₃, 100 μL of 50 mM substrate phosphate, and 5 μL of 0.2 mg/mL calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase (Pierce Chemical, Rockford, Ill.) in 100 mM Tris, pH 7.0.

Example 2 Alkaline Phosphatase, Silver Nitrate, and Substrate Phosphates on Nitrocellulose

[0080] Alkaline phosphatase (5 μL of 0.2 mg/mL) was added to nitrocellulose paper and dried (see FIG. 2). Each of the phosphates were spotted on the nitrocellulose as 5 μL of 0.05M solution in 0.1M Tris, pH 9. When 5 μL of 0.05M AgNO₃ was added to each dried spot, a black precipitate was observed only at the spot where alkaline phosphatase was applied.

Example 3 Offline Development of Ag Nanoparticles on Tonsil Using the AP-SA Conjugate at High pH.

[0081] The preparation of the slides for analysis was done on a Ventana Benchmark® automated staining instrument (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, Ariz.). The slides were removed for manual development of signal. The use of the term “buffer” within this Example refers to a 0.1 M Tris buffer (Trizma base (Sigma-Aldrich) in dl H₂O pH to 9 using glacial acetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich). The following is the adapted procedure from the instrument: the paraffin-coated tissue on the slide was heated to 75° C. for 4 minutes and treated twice with EZPrep™ (Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.) volume adjusted at 75° C. before application of the liquid cover slip with EZPrep volume adjust. After 4 minutes at 75° C., the slide was rinsed and automated deparaffinization volume adjust was added along with liquid cover slip to deparaffinize the tissue at 76° C. for 4 minutes. The slide was cooled to 40° C. and rinsed three times before the addition of ANTI-CD20 antibody (clone L26, Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.) followed by liquid cover slip and incubation at 40° C. for 16 minutes. After rinsing the slide, the tissue was treated with biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) to co-locate biotin with the Anti-CD20 antibody, followed by liquid cover slip and incubation at 40° C. for 8 minutes. The slide was rinsed twice and removed from the instrument and stored in 1X Reaction Buffer (Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.) until they were ready to be developed.

[0082] The slide was removed from 1X Reaction Buffer and rinsed 10 times with buffer followed by the addition of 300 μL of buffer to the slide as well as 100 μL of AP-SA conjugate (0.14 mg/mL in buffer, Sigma-Aldrich). The slide was incubated at 37° C. for 15 minutes followed by rinsing ten times with buffer. The slide was treated with 300 μL of the buffer followed by 50 μL of AuCl₃ (Sigma-Aldrich) (2.5 μg/mL in buffer) and 50 μL of ascorbic acid phosphate (Sigma-Aldrich) (0.1 M in buffer). The slide was incubated at 37° C. for 20 minutes and followed by rinsing 10 times with buffer. The slide was treated with 300 μL of buffer followed by 50 μL of silver acetate (Sigma-Aldrich) (0.1 M in buffer) and 50 μL of the ascorbic acid phosphate solution and incubated at 37° C. for 20 minutes. The slide was again rinsed 10 times with buffer followed by the application of ISH Red Counterstain (Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.) as a counter-stain. The slide was incubated with the counter-stain for 3 minutes and rinsed with buffer. Dehydration of the slide with ethanol and xylene preceded the application of the coverslip, after which the slides were viewed under the microscope.

[0083] As shown by the gray-scale photographs in FIG. 3, staining is present in the plasma membrane and cytoplasmic regions of normal B cells in normal tonsil. Staining intensity is comparable to positive control (FIG. 5) detected with Enhanced V-Red Detection kit (Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.).

Example 4 Online Development of Ag Nanoparticles on Tonsil Using the AP-SA Conjugate at High pH

[0084] The main difference between this example and Example 3 is that this example shows full automation of the staining steps, while in Example 3 the slide was removed from the instrument prior to development with AP-SA. The preparation of the slides for analysis was done on a Ventana Benchmark Instrument. The use of the term “buffer” within this Example refers to a 0.1 M Tris buffer (Trizma base-Sigma-Aldrich) in deionized H₂O pH to 9 using glacial acetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich). The following is the adapted procedure from the instrument: the paraffin-coated tissue on the slide was heated to 75° C. for 4 minutes and treated twice with EZPrep volume adjust at 75° C. before application of the liquid cover slip with EZPrep volume adjust. After 4 minutes at 75° C., the slide was rinsed and automated deparaffinization volume adjust was added along with liquid cover slip to deparaffin the tissue at 76° C. for 4 minutes. The slide was cooled to 40° C. and rinsed three times before the addition of ANTI-CD20 antibody (clone L26, Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.) followed by liquid cover slip and incubation at 40° C. for 16 minutes. After rinsing the slide, the tissue was treated with biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) to co-locate biotin with the Anti-CD20 antibody, followed by liquid cover slip and incubation at 40° C. for 8 minutes. The slide was rinsed twice with buffer followed by the application of liquid cover slip and the addition of AP-SA conjugate (Sigma-Aldrich, 100 μL, 0.14 mg/mL in buffer) and incubation at 37° C. for 16 minutes. The slide was rinsed with buffer, liquid cover slip was applied and this was followed by the addition of 100 μL of a 1:1 solution of AuCl₃ (Sigma-Aldrich) (1.25 μg/mL) and ascorbic acid phosphate (Sigma-Aldrich) (0.05 M) in buffer. The slide was incubated at 37° C. for 20 minutes, rinsed with buffer and coated with liquid cover slip. A total of 100 μL of a 1:1 solution of silver acetate (Sigma-Aldrich) (0.05 M) and ascorbic acid phosphate (0.05 M) was added to the slide, and the slide was incubated for 20 minutes at 37° C. The slide was rinsed three times with buffer and treated to a detergent wash before dehydration with ethanol and xylene and subsequent application of a cover slip to the slide, after which the slide was viewed through a microscope.

[0085] As shown by the gray-scale photographs in FIG. 4, staining is present in the plasma membrane and cytoplasmic regions of normal B cells in normal tonsil. Staining intensity is comparable to positive control (FIG. 5) detected with Enhanced V-Red Detection kit (Ventana, Tucson, Ariz.).

Example 5 Anti-Desmin on Skeletal Muscle

[0086] Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skeletal muscle was sectioned and placed on glass slides for light microscopy. Sections were deparaffinized on a Ventana Medical Systems' BenchMark slide stainer. Remaining on the BenchMark, the section was treated with Protease 1 (Ventana) for 4 minutes. Sections were then incubated with Anti-Desmin (Ventana, cat# 760-2513) monoclonal antibody for 16 minutes at 37° C. After washing with Reaction Buffer on the instrument, a rabbit anti-mouse antibody was incubated for 8 minutes at 37° C. Sections were then rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a mouse anti-rabbit antibody for 8 minutes at 37° C. (Amplification Kit, Ventana cat. no. 760-080). Next the sections were rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a cocktail of biotinylated secondary antibodies biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) for 8 minutes at 37° C. The sections were rinsed and a solution of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Enhanced SA-/Alk Phos/VRed Ventana, cat. no. 253-2181) was incubated for 16 minutes at 37° C. The sections were then removed from the BenchMark slide stainer. The slides were then washed with dI H₂O and incubated with 500 μl of 2.5μg/ml hydrogen tetrabromoaurate (III) hydrate (Aldrich cat. no. 44,212) for 4 minutes at 37° C. The solution was rinsed with dIH20 and 250 μl of 50 mM AgNO₃ (Sigma #S-0139) in 0.5 M Tris Buffer at pH 9.0 and 250 μl of 100 mM ascorbic acid phosphate (Sigma A-8960) in a 0.5M DEA Buffer at pH 10.0 with 5% PVA (av. mol wt 70,000 to 100,000 Sigma # P-1763) was applied to each section. The slides were allowed to incubate for 20 minutes at 37° C. The slides were rinsed with dI H₂O and coverslipped without counterstain. Results are shown in FIG. 6.

Example 6 Anti-S100 on Brain

[0087] Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue was sectioned and placed on glass slides for light microscopy. Sections were deparaffinized on a Ventana BenchMark slide stainer. Sections were then incubated with Anti-S100 polyclonal antibody (Ventana cat. no. 760-2523) for 16 minutes at 37° C. Next the sections were rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a cocktail of biotinylated secondary antibodies biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) for 8 minutes at 37° C. The sections were rinsed and a solution of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Enhanced SA-/Alk PhosNVRed Ventana, cat. no. 253-2181) was incubated for 16 minutes at 37° C. The sections were then removed from the BenchMark slide stainer. The slides were then washed with dI H₂O and incubated with 500 μl of 2.5 μg/ml hydrogen tetrabromoaurate (III) hydrate (Aldrich #44,212) for 4 minutes at 37° C. The solution was rinsed with dIH₂O and 250 μl of 50 mM AgNO₃ (Sigma #S-0139) in 0.5 M Tris Buffer at pH 9.0 and 250μl of 100 mM ascorbic acid phosphate in a 0.5 M (Sigma A-8960) DEA Buffer at pH 10.0 with 5% PVA (av. mol wt 70,000 to 100,000 Sigma # P-1763)) was applied to each section. The slides were allowed to incubate for 20 minutes at 37° C. The slides were counterstained with Nuclear Fast Red and coverslipped. Results are shown in FIG. 7.

Example 7 Rabbit Negative Control on Brain

[0088] Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded skeletal muscle was sectioned and placed on glass slides for light microscopy. Sections were deparaffinized on a Ventana BenchMark slide stainer. Sections were then incubated with Rabbit Negative Control (Ventana, cat. no. 760-2023) for 16 minutes at 37° C. Next the sections were rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a cocktail of biotinylated secondary antibodies biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) for 8 minutes at 37° C. The sections were rinsed and a solution of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Enhanced SA-/Alk PhosNVRed Ventana, cat. no. 253-2181) was incubated for 16 minutes at 37° C. The sections were then removed from the BenchMark slide stainer. The slides were then washed with dI H₂O and incubated with 500 μl of 2.5 μg/ml hydrogen tetrabromoaurate (III) hydrate (Aldrich #44,212) for 4 minutes at 37° C. The solution was rinsed using diH₂O and 250 μl of 50 mM AgNO₃ (Sigma #S-0139) in 0.5 M Tris Buffer at pH 9.0 and 250 μl of 100 mM ascorbic acid phosphate (Sigma A-8960) in a 0.5 M DEA Buffer at pH 10.0 with 5% PVA (av. mol wt 70,000 to 100,000 Sigma # P-1763)) was applied to each section. The slides were allowed to incubate for 20 minutes at 37° C. The slides were counterstained with Nuclear Fast Red and coverslipped. Results are shown in FIG. 8.

[0089] The grey-black staining observed with FIG. 7 compared to the lack of grey-black staining observed with FIG. 8 demonstrates that the staining pattern in FIG. 7 is specific for the antigen since FIG. 8 was run with Negative Rabbit Control. FIG. 9 is the same case of brain tissue run with Anti-S100 but detected utilizing Ventana's Enhanced V-Red Detection Kit. Observe that the staining pattern is the same as that found in FIG. 7.

Example 8 Anti-Desmin on Skeletal Muscle with Non-enzymatic Amplification

[0090] This example shows that chemical amplification of the silver signal can be used to amplify the original silver deposited as a function of reduction by ascorbate. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded skeletal muscle was sectioned and placed on glass slides for light microscopy. Sections were deparaffinized on a Ventana BenchMark slide stainer. Remaining on the BenchMark, the section was treated with Protease 1 (Ventana) for 4 minutes. Sections were then incubated with Anti-Desmin (Ventana, cat. no. 760-2513) monoclonal antibody for 16 minutes at 37° C. After washing with Reaction Buffer on the instrument, a rabbit anti-mouse antibody was incubated for 8 minutes at 37° C. Sections were then rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a mouse anti-rabbit antibody for 8 minutes at 37° C. (Amplification Kit, Ventana cat. no. 760-080). Next the sections were rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a cocktail of biotinylated secondary antibodies biotinylated Universal Secondary Antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, part # 760-4205) for 8 minutes at 37° C. The sections were rinsed and a solution of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Enhanced SA-/Alk Phos/VRed, Ventana cat. no. 253-2181) was incubated for 16 minutes at 37° C. The sections were then removed from the BenchMark slide stainer. The slides were then washed with dI H₂O and incubated with 500 μl of 2.5 μg/ml hydrogen tetrabromoaurate (III) hydrate (Aldrich #44,212) for 4 minutes at 37° C. The solution was rinsed with dIH₂O and 250 μl of 50 mM AgNO₃ (Sigma #S-0139) in 0.5 M Tris Buffer at pH 9.0 and 250 μl of 100 mM ascorbic acid phosphate (Sigma A-8960) in a 0.5M DEA Buffer at pH 10.0 with 5% PVA (av. mol wt 70,000 to 100,000 Sigma # P-1763)) was applied to each section. The slides were allowed to incubate for 10 minutes at 37° C. The slides were rinsed with dI H₂O. The signal was then amplified by incubating for 10 minutes at 37° C. in a 25 mM 4-Methyl aminophenol (Aldrich # 129720), 12 mM AgNO₃ solution in a 0.1 M Citrate Buffer at pH 3.8. FIG. 10 demonstrates the signal with the amplification when compared to Example 9 (FIG. 11) which is without any non-enzymatic amplification.

Example 9 Anti-Desmin on Skeletal Muscle without Non-enzymatic Amplification

[0091] Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded skeletal muscle was sectioned and placed on glass slides for light microscopy. Sections were deparaffinized on a Ventana Medical Systems' BenchMark slide stainer. Remaining on the BenchMark, the section was treated with Protease 1 for 4 minutes. Sections were then incubated with Anti-Desmin monoclonal antibody for 16 minutes at 37° C. After washing with Reaction Buffer, on the instrument, a rabbit anti-mouse antibody was incubated for 8 minutes at 37° C. Sections were then rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a mouse anti-rabbit antibody for 8 minutes at 37° C. Next the sections were rinsed with Reaction Buffer and incubated with a cocktail of biotinylated secondary antibodies. The sections were rinsed and a solution of Strept-Avidin Alkaline Phosphatase was incubated for 16 minutes. The sections were then removed from the BenchMark Automated slide stainer. The slides were then washed with dI H₂O and incubated with 500 μl of 2.5 μg/ml hydrogen tetrabromoaurate (III) hydrate for 4 minutes at 37° C. The solution was rinsed with dIH₂O and 250 μl of 50 mM AgNO₃ in 0.5 M Tris Buffer at pH 9.0 and 250 μl of 100 mM Ascorbic Acid Phosphate in a 0.5M DEA Buffer at pH 10.0 with 5% PVA (av. mol wt 70,000 to 100,000) was applied to each section. The slides were allowed to incubate for 10 minutes at 37° C. The slides were rinsed with dI H₂0. FIG. 11 demonstrates the signal without the amplification when compared to Example 8 (FIG. 10).

Example 10 Synthesis of Hydroquinone-1,4-diphosphate

[0092] Hydroquinone was reacted with two equivalents of phosphorous oxychloride and two equivalents anhydrous pyridine in anhydrous toluene (to 0.1 M) over 30 minutes. The mixture was refluxed for an additional 30 minutes and allowed to cool to ambient temperature. Pyridinium chloride was removed by filtration through a pad of diatomaceous earth and rinsed with a small volume of dry toluene. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo at 40° C. and the residue hydrolyzed with aqueous ammonium carbonate to pH 7. The product was purified by reverse-phase separation on flash C18 silica gel to give the desired product as proven by MS, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR.

Example 11 Synthesis of Anthrahydroquinone-1,4-diphosphate and naphthohydroquinone-1,4-diphosphate

[0093] The procedure of Example 10 is performed with the exception of using Anthrahydroquinone or naphthohydroquinone as the starting materials.

Example 12 General Synthesis of Substrate Phosphates: Synthesis of Sesamol Phosphate

[0094] POCl₃ (89.5 mmol) was transferred to a dry 500 ml round bottom flask under a nitrogen atmosphere. A solution of sesamol (35.8 mmol, 1 eq.) and triethylamine (71.7 mmol) in 200 mL of dry dichloromethane was added dropwise over four hours to the POCl₃ solution. After stirring at ambient temperature overnight the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The residue was dissolved in 100 mL dichloromethane and the salts removed by filtering through Celite. The product was partitioned into water by quenching with 100 mL saturated ammonium carbonate. The organic layer was discarded and the aqueous phase was dried by rotary evaporation to give 8.2 grams (90% yield) of the desired phosphate. The product identity was confirmed by MS, and analysis by HPLC at 214 nm showed the product to be greater than 99% pure.

Example 13 General Synthesis of Substrate Phosphates: Svnthesis of Eugenol and PMCP Phosphates

[0095] The procedure of Example 12 is performed-with the exception of using eugenol or PMCP (2,2,5,7,8-Pentamethyl-6-chromanol) as the starting materials.

[0096] It will be appreciated that the methods and compositions of the present invention are capable of being incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only a few of which have been illustrated and described above. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are to be embraced within the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method of detecting in situ an immunohistochemical epitope or nucleic acid sequence of interest in a biological sample comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to the epitope or sequence of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion, thereby facilitating the reduction of the metal ion to a metal atom at or about the point where the enzyme is anchored.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule comprises an antibody.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule comprises avidin or streptavidin.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said redox-inactive reductive species is a substrate for said enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of alkaline phospatase, acid phosphatase, alpha- and beta-galactosidases, alpha- and beta-glucosidases, esterases generally,.and beta-lactamases.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said enzyme is alkaline phosphatase, and said substrate is ascorbic acid phosphate.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein said enzyme is alkaline phosphatase, and said substrate is a hydroquinone phosphate derivative.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said redox-inactive reductive species is selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone mono- and di-phosphates, naphthohydroquinone mono- and di-phosphates, and anthrahydroquinone mono- and di-phosphates, or a derivative thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said redox-inactive reductive species is selected from the group consisting of sesamol phosphate, eugenol phosphate and alpha-tocopherol phosphate, or a derivative thereof.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of silver and gold.
 12. A compound having the general structure (IV) shown below:

wherein R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; R₂ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, or (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, H, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam; but both Zs may not be H.
 13. The compound of claim 12 wherein both Zs are PO₃ ⁻².
 14. A compound having the general structure (V):

wherein R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam.
 15. A compound having the general structure (VI):

wherein R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether or sulphonate; and Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam.
 16. A compound having the general formula (VII):

wherein R₁ may be H, alkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, NH2, (CH₂)_(n)—COOH—, nitro, ether, thioether and sulphonate; and Z may be PO₃ ²⁻, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-glucose, β-glucose, ester, and β-lactam.
 17. The compound of claim 16 wherein R₁ is CH₂—(CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂)₃—H.
 18. A kit for detecting a biomarker of interest in a biological sample, comprising one or more containers, each container adapted to hold an anti-biomarker conjugate molecule, a redox-inactive reductive species, an enzyme for rendering said reductive species active, and a metal ion.
 19. The kit of claim 18 wherein said anti-biomarker conjugate molecule is an antibody.
 20. The kit of claim 19 wherein said antibody is labeled with a hapten.
 21. The kit of claim 18 wherein said anti-biomarker conjugate molecule is an oligonucleotide sequence.
 22. The kit of claim 21 wherein said oligonucleotide sequence is labeled with a hapten.
 23. The kit of claim 18 wherein said enzyme label is a phosphatase.
 24. The kit of claim 18 wherein said redox-inactive reductive species is ascorbic acid phosphate.
 25. A method of in situ staining a biological sample having an epitope or nucleotide sequence of interest, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said tissue with a conjugate molecule having a hapten; (b) contacting said hapten with a hapten-binding partner conjugated to a label enzyme; and (c) contacting said biological sample with a redox-inactive reductive species that is a substrate for said label enzyme in the presence of a metal ion.
 26. The method of claim 25 wherein said conjugate molecule is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, nucleotide sequences and affinity partners.
 27. The method of claim 25 wherein said hapten is selected from the group consisting of fluoroscein, biotin, digoxigenin and dinitrophenol.
 28. The method of claim 25 wherein said enzyme label is a phosphatase.
 29. The method of claim 25 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of silver and gold.
 30. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of pre-treating the biological sample with gold is performed prior to the reduction of silver metal.
 31. The method of claim 25 wherein said redox-inactive reductive species is selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone mono- and/or di-phosphates, naphthohydroquinone mono- and/or di-phosphates, anthrahydroquinone mono- and/or di-phosphates, sesamol phosphate, eugenol phosphate and alpha-tocopherol phosphate, or a derivative thereof.
 32. A method of in situ staining a biological sample having an epitope or nucleotide sequence of interest, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said tissue with a biotinylated primary antibody; (b) contacting said biological sample having said biotinylated primary antibody bound to it with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase; and (c) contacting said biological sample of step (b) with ascorbic acid phosphate in the presence of silver ion at a pH greater than
 7. 33. The compound of claim 14 wherein said Z is phosphate.
 34. The compound of claim 15 wherein said Z is phosphate.
 35. The compound of claim 16 wherein said Z is phosphate and said R₁ is methyl.
 36. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of pre-treating the biological sample with gold is performed prior to the reduction of silver metal. 